Safety

Video Safety Tip: Vehicle Noises You Shouldn’t Ignore

Like a dripping faucet in a house, a repetitive noise in a vehicle can become a major annoyance over time. Some noises, however, can help alert an astute driver to underlying problems that need to be resolved. Responding to these sounds quickly can promote safety and save money.

For example, a squealing noise during acceleration might be a sign that a drive belt is loose or slipping. Grinding while braking might signal that the brake pads or wheel bearings need to be replaced.

According to AAA, there are eight vehicle noises that drivers should never ignore: squealing, grinding, rattling, popping, hissing, clicking, roaring and tapping.

Click on the image or link below the headline to view a video explaining just what these noises are and what problems they may portend.

From Uber drivers to scooter users and pedestrians buried in their cell phones, fleet drivers navigating medium-duty trucks in the big city face an entirely different reality than their suburban or rural counterparts.

Although automatic emergency brake systems have proven to prevent typical front-to-rear crashes, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is exploring additional opportunities to increase the effectiveness of the technology.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Governors Highway Safety Association will jointly host a forum in April to address the ongoing problem of speeding, which is a factor in about 10,000 roadside fatalities each year.

With the goal of tightening an existing law prohibiting texting while driving, both houses of Virginia's General Assembly recently voted to ban the use of handheld mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle.

Several cities are responding to what they view as lax state legislation by passing their own distracted driving laws. Three states in the nation still allow texting while driving and only 16 have adopted hands-free laws, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.